Back from the game - Cardiff City

[Big Foot]

The difference in development between Karacan and Church is quite staggering, both came from the same crop but Karacan is now streets ahead. Karacan was different gravy last night, and a special mention to Howard, who i thought worked his nuts off and never shirked a challenge.

Interesting that, I think Church is starting to develop into a really useful striker. Should have buried that chance, but did lots of good stuff in an unfamiliar position, including a cracking ball in for the goal.

Agreed

Also looked dangerous running at their defence with pace in a Forster style manner

I think we should be playing A.N.Other target striker in the mould of Bothroyd + Church

[Big Foot]

Also, someone said about Bothroyd being a hell of a player...the one glimmer of joy of Cardiff being promoted would be to see him and Chopra kicked from pillar to post week in, week out by the lumps in the Prem

[Hoop Blah]

think he looked much more comfortable in a two, and had a decent game

Agreed, bar the missed Lob Long had an excellent game, but tired towards the end.

He didnt really play as a 2 though did he? More or less the same formation with Church for Tabb, i just think we looked a lot better all round with a striker playing in the hole.

Exactly, Tony, it wasn't a two at all, it was Church playing ok in the hole and better forward runs to support Long.

There was a suggestion of playing Long in there the other week, which I disagreed with. I actually think Church did ok in there really. He still wastes good chances, and didn't create that much for others (he did corss for the goal mind!) but he did look more of a threat then Howard or Tabb when they've played in there.

[rabidbee]

The difference in development between Karacan and Church is quite staggering, both came from the same crop but Karacan is now streets ahead. Karacan was different gravy last night, and a special mention to Howard, who i thought worked his nuts off and never shirked a challenge.

The thing is, he never does. I like him; he's generally tidy, will never duck out of a challenge, is always offering himself for a pass, is always busy, pops up late in the box; his work off the ball is great. I know sometimes his passing is poor, but I think that's usually in the final third, when he's trying to pass through the defence. I don't mind players losing the ball because they take chances outside the opposition box.

[Wycombe Royal]

The difference in development between Karacan and Church is quite staggering, both came from the same crop but Karacan is now streets ahead. Karacan was different gravy last night, and a special mention to Howard, who i thought worked his nuts off and never shirked a challenge.

Karacan's passing is still very poor.

[kwik-silva]

The difference in development between Karacan and Church is quite staggering, both came from the same crop but Karacan is now streets ahead. Karacan was different gravy last night, and a special mention to Howard, who i thought worked his nuts off and never shirked a challenge.

Karacan's passing is still very poor.

Think that's a little harsh. He's done some cracking passes. Maybe not always the most consistent, but then again Howard (who was pretty good last night) completely oxf*rd up a pass that went straight to Cardiff as well, and he's got significantly more experience than Jem

[dantheloyalroyal]

And now mine...

A few people have mentioned Harte getting done for the Olajuwon chance that Griffin stopped with the last-ditch tackle.

For me that all came about because Jobi totally bottled a 50/50 over on the right, leading to a breakaway with men up in numbers.

+1

[Wycombe Royal]

The difference in development between Karacan and Church is quite staggering, both came from the same crop but Karacan is now streets ahead. Karacan was different gravy last night, and a special mention to Howard, who i thought worked his nuts off and never shirked a challenge.

Karacan's passing is still very poor.

Think that's a little harsh. He's done some cracking passes. Maybe not always the most consistent, but then again Howard (who was pretty good last night) completely oxf*rd up a pass that went straight to Cardiff as well, and he's got significantly more experience than Jem

Even Karacan himself has admitted he needs to improve his passing, and at the moment it is his passing ability that will stop him progressing to a higher level.

[Snowball]

A few people have mentioned Harte getting done for the Olajuwon chance that Griffin stopped with the last-ditch tackle.

For me that all came about because Jobi totally bottled a 50/50 over on the right, leading to a breakaway with men up in numbers.

Shhhssh, M, that's not how it works.

When 1-2-3 players go on the shit-list they stay there
until either they score seven consecutive hat-tricks
or rescue a baby from a fire every night for a week

[Snowball]

For the first hour we outplayed Cardiff but it was done by continual chasing down, racing from player to player to harry everyone with the ball and the problem with that is that no matter how fit you are its completely knackering. You can't keep it up for 90 minutes. Noel was substituted and clearly tiring and the number of tired passes increased as the game went on.

Against lesser sides you can take it a bit easier but Cardiff are big, good and strong and cost a lot more than ours.

That was it in a nutshell. We stopped pressing, they started to play
and the difference in class started to show.

Like Arsenal get so many late goals when the opposition is just to knackered to close down any more.

[andrew1957]

I think on this occasion Harte is being given a bit of a bad press on here. He did ok last night.

As for the bigger picture - on the one hand Armstrong is undoubtedly the better defender (on 2009 form), but Harte does offer a good deal in possession - as well as free kicks.

I would have brought Armstrong back myself, but although Harte does get beaten for pace, he also covers quite well. Overall I can see Brian's dilemma though as Harte offers more offensively and without Sig we are sorely lacking in that department - as we all know.

I suspect that unless a/ he has a stinker or b/ Sir John gets his cheque book out in January, Harte will remain first choice.

[Snowball]

Yes, I leave it to the professional team to choose the best players for the job AS THEY SEE IT.



OTOH we COULD sack the manager and have an HNA vote to pick the team every week.

[winchester_royal]

Yes, I leave it to the professional team to choose the best players for the job AS THEY SEE IT.



OTOH we COULD sack the manager and have an HNA vote to pick the team every week.

I wonder if you'd say the same if McD chose to drop Long and Harte on saturday.

[BR2]

Yes, I leave it to the professional team to choose the best players for the job AS THEY SEE IT.



OTOH we COULD sack the manager and have an HNA vote to pick the team every week.

That would be the same "professional" team who were convinced from 70 yards away that the ball DEFINITELY did not cross the line-not very professional that.
They are not infallible Snowball and we are mid-table and not steaming clear at the top so there are obviously weaknesses.

[RobRoyal]

Yes, I leave it to the professional team to choose the best players for the job AS THEY SEE IT.



OTOH we COULD sack the manager and have an HNA vote to pick the team every week.

What does this mean? That a discussion forum for people to put forward and exchange their opinions is pointless?

Fine, off you go then.

[BR2]

On a more general point after last night-the "ex-professional" Mick Gooding was saying that in his opinion the club needs to buy and the inference (surprisingly?)was a striker.
As other people have said the system was the same last night with different personnel.
Does anybody know if Kebe is likely to be back for Saturday?

[andrew1957]

On a more general point after last night-the "ex-professional" Mick Gooding was saying that in his opinion the club needs to buy and the inference (surprisingly?)was a striker.
As other people have said the system was the same last night with different personnel.
Does anybody know if Kebe is likely to be back for Saturday?

I cannot help thinking that if a fit Kebe had played last night instead of McAnuff that we would have won the game.

[Wimb]

On a more general point after last night-the "ex-professional" Mick Gooding was saying that in his opinion the club needs to buy and the inference (surprisingly?)was a striker.
As other people have said the system was the same last night with different personnel.
Does anybody know if Kebe is likely to be back for Saturday?

Brian said in his interview aired before the game that he was touch and go, or words to that effect

[Snowball]

Yes, I leave it to the professional team to choose the best players for the job AS THEY SEE IT.



OTOH we COULD sack the manager and have an HNA vote to pick the team every week.

I wonder if you'd say the same if McD chose to drop Long and Harte on saturday.

Yes I would, and what's more I'd say that finally, it looks like age is catching up with Harte, that the manager recognises it, etc.


My point all along is that the manager knows the players and their "fit" better than any of us.

However, I think Mc will continue to play Harte BECAUSE HE THINKS HE'S THE BEST BET FOR THE JOB, and, if Harte does drop from the reckoning, he'll be "injured" first.

I think Long will continue to be picked as long as he is injury-free. Right NOW I think he's our best striker. Church will be better but he isn't yet. Hunt may or may not be over his injury, and doesn't look capable of a flat out 90 minutes yet.



PS Fans are dummies. You only have to read the remarks and scores post-match, not what the marks are but their DIFFERENCES.

[Man Friday]

Oh, and as for the Watford comparison - it's funny how people (not necessarily you, handbags) forget that up until the "phantom goal" we were by far the better team. Additionally, we had an even more blatant penalty appeal turned down (in injury time) than the penatly appeal that was given for our equaliser.

So, in essence, the "phantom goal" actually hindered us rather than helped us IMO.

No need to put "IMO". It 100% definitely hindered us. Every decision went against us after that including 2 penalty decisions, one of which was rock-solid.